I was shocked by the March 19 article Mock shooter invades hospital. It seems to me to be totally appropriate for the authorities to train responding to active shooter scenarios in public places such as grocery stores, and other businesses.
However, for years the Cook County North Shore Hospital has conspicuously displayed signs on the entry doors stating that guns and dangerous weapons are not allowed on their premises. Similar signs are so located at Cook County schools.
Since terrorists, or other potential homicidal maniacs are prohibited from bringing weapons into these locations, holding active shooter training there seems both inappropriate and a waste of taxpayer money.
Although such training is obviously unnecessary, hospital staff was advised that during an active shooter situation, they should run, hide or fight. I’m sure that being told that “a moving target is much more difficult to hit and even if hit, a gunshot wound will not necessarily kill you” was most comforting.
While they were informed that “everything at your disposal is a weapon” and several examples were given, none were, in fact, weapons. Given the limitations imposed on hospital staff, and others laboring under similar crippling (no pun intended) circumstances, I’m surprised that these folks were not advised to resort to begging, pleading and praying, the latter probably the most frequently employed in such circumstances.
An armed society is a polite society.
Nevin D. Holmberg
Hovland
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